ALREADY 70 ENTRIES FOR 2018 24H DUBAI (11-13 January, 2018)

For more and more drivers and teams from all over the world, it has become a good tradition to start the new motor racing season in Dubai. Next year will be no exception, with the 13th running of the Hankook 24H DUBAI scheduled to be held at Dubai Autodrome from 11 till 13 January, 2018. Although the event is still almost eight months away, 70 entries have already been received. “And by no means only GT3 cars, as the provisional entry list has a good mix of touring cars, GT cars and 24H Specials. Interest from TCR touring car teams is rising: already 15 TCR cars have been entered. CREVENTIC is still committed to attracting touring cars for Dubai and the other 24H SERIES events and therefore is delighted to see that half of the provisional entry list currently consists of touring cars and GT4s,” says Gerrie Willems on behalf of CREVENTIC. The Dutch agency is promoter and organiser of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook, in co-operation with the Dutch National Racing Team (DNRT).

The Hankook 24H DUBAI has firmly become established as one of the world’s major international endurance races. Held for the first time in 2006, the race is the flagship of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook. Gerrie Willems says: “The regulations will keep the focus on an open and sporting character for a wide variety of cars for the combination of amateurs, gentlemen drivers, semi-pro and pro drivers. Taking into account the valuable feedback from our teams and drivers we will carry out some significant improvements. For instance, we will no longer be working with minimum ‘reference’ lap times and go back to racing and we will try to create more transparency related to penalties.”

A separate GT4 class new for 2018

“In agreement with SRO, a separate GT4 class will be included in all our events from 2018, starting with the race in Dubai,” Willems continues. “With new GT4 cars from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG expected to be available for next year, and the large number of McLaren and Porsche GT4 cars already competing, this category is becoming more and more important. GT4 cars have proven to be perfectly suited for endurance racing, so they fit very well into the 24H SERIES and 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook. For the non-GT4 cars currently running in the SP3-GT4 class, we will maintain the SP3 category.”

Prototypes again in action at Dubai

Following the very successful premiere at Dubai this year, another prototype race will take place at Dubai Autodrome in January, 2018. The race format is yet to be announced, but a total duration of twelve hours is scheduled. The prototypes will race on the weekend prior to the Hankook 24H DUBAI, so on 5 and 6 January, 2018.